Pipe organ valve action



P 1957 s. GUNDLING 2,805,595

PIPE ORGAN VALVE ACTION Filed June 17, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Y

s s BASTI AN 'euumJua Sept. 10, 1957 s. GUNDLING 2,305,595

PIPE 0mm VALVE ACTION I Filed June 17, 1955 V 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 5E 8A5T1AN GUN Dl-\ NG ATTORNEYS gained States Patent GRGAN VALVE ACTION Elehastian Gnndling, Lancaster, Pa. Application dune 17, 1955, Serial No. 516,691

3 (llairns. (Cl. 84339) This invention relates to a pipe organ valve action and has for its primary object to improve the tone of an organ pipe.

Another object is to gradually admit the air from the wind chest into the organ pipe and thereby avoid producing a harsh tonal effect.

Another object is to prolong the life of the magnetic coils employed in the control of the fiow of air from the wind chest into the organ pipe by diminishing the demand for electrical energy and reducing to a minmum the possibility of overheating and burning out the coils.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a transverse sectional view through a wind chest showing a vertically extending port extending through a horizontal top wall of the wind chest and one form of my improved valve mechanism mounted within the wind chest in operative relation to a port;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure l of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 5, showing the organ pipe control valve in open position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of the underside of the structure illustrated in Figure 5, showing the electromagnetically operated means removed;

Figure 9 is a top perspective view of the valve and actuating mechanism of the type employed in Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a further modification of the invention;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 1111 of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the valve mechanism illustrated in Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a wind chest designated generally 10 is provided with a horizontal top wall 12 having ports 14 extending vertically therethrough. An organ pipe 16 is mounted above the top wall 12 in axial alignment and communication with each port 14 so that Wind within the wind chest 10 passing through a port 14 will vibrate the organ pipe and thus produce sound.

The structure so far described is disclosed in Patent No. 2,247,838, though in the present instance, the top wall 12 is of considerably greater thickness than the top wall of the organ chest of the aforesaid patent.

Positioned within the wind chest 10 and on one side of and spaced from the port 14 is a vertically disposed support 18, the support having the upper end depend ingly carried by the top wall 12. A lever is positioned within the chest 10 and transversely of the support 18 and is connected at its mid-portion to the lower end of the support for up and down movement about a horizontal axis. Specifically, the lever 20 is connected to the lower end of the support by means of the horizontally disposed pivot pin 22. A stem 24 arranged in an upright position is positioned below the port 14 and has the lower end secured to one end of the lever 20. On the upper end of the stem 24 is a valve 30 which is movable into and out of closing relation with respect to the port 14 responsive to the up and down movement of the lever. The valve 30 carries on its under face a collar 28 which is in threaded engagement with the stem 24. Positioned on the side of the support 18 remote from the port 14 and spaced above the portion of the lever 20 between the axis or pin 22 and the other end thereof is an electromagnet 34. The electromagnet 34 has a core 36 with one end projecting therefrom, and the electromagnet is so arranged that the projecting core one end is remote from the support 18 with the end of the electromagnet remote from the projecting core one end attached to the support 18. An armature 32 arranged in an upwardly direction is carried by the other end of the lever and is engageable with the projecting core one end of the electromagnet 34, the core upon energization engaging the armature 32 and causing the lever 26 to execute its upward movement and movement of the valve 30 out of closing engagement with the top wall 12 and out of closing relation to the port 14. Extending outwardly from the support 18 in a direction opposite the electromagnet 34 and above the lever 20 is a bracket 38 to which is connected one end of a retractile coil spring 40, the opposite end of which is connected to the lever 20 between the support 18 and stem 24 to yieldingly urge the valve 30 into closing relation with the port 14. It will thus be seen that upon energization of the electromagnet 34, the lever 20 will be rocked about the pivot 22 against the effort of the spring 40 to cause the valve 30 to uncover the port 14, as suggested in the broken lines in Figure l.

Carried by the support 18 between the electromagnet 34 and the pivot pin 22 is a cushioning means. Such means embodies an arm 23 which projects from the support in the direction of and beneath the electromagnet, and carried by said arm 23 is a pad 25 which extends downwardly below the underside of said arm 23 and in the path of movement of the lever 29 so that as the lever is moved against the effort of the spring 40 under the influence of the electromagnet 34, it will be cushioned as it reaches the upper limit of its travel so as to avoid the production of any sound as the movement of the lever is arrested.

The electromagnet is connected through conventional conductors 42 and 44 with suitable binding posts 46 and 48, respectively, which extend through the top wall 12 and are connected through conventional conductors 50 and 52 with any conventional circuit closing means. From the foregoing, it will be obvious that upon energizing the electromagnet 34, the lever 29 will he moved to cause the stem 24 to move t e valve 30 away from contact with the underside of the top wall 12 to open the port 14 and permit the wind within the wind chest to escape through said port into the organ pipe 16.

In the modified form of the invention, illustrated in Figures 5 through 9, inclusive, a wind chest designated generally 10a is provided with a conventional top wall 12a which corresponds in all respects to the top wall 12, previously referred to, and is provided with vertically extending ports 14a with which upwardly extending organ pipes 16:; communicate. Extending through the top wall adjacent each port 14a and in parallel relation thereto is a vent 54, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

A valve body 56 having a duct 58 extending therethrough is mounted within the wind chest adjacent the top wall 12a and in axial alignment with the vent 54.

Said valve body is provided with a recess 60 which opens through the top of the body in axial alignment with a port 14a and extending through said valve body 56 and establishing communication between the duct 58 and the recess 6% is a passage 62, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. A flexible bellows 6d closes the upper open end of the recess 69 to define with said recess a closed chamber which communicates with the duct 58 through the passage 62. Carried by the flexible bellows 64 within the chamber is a disk 66 of rigid material carrying a de pending boss 68 which defines a guide for the upper end of a compression coiled spring 7d, the lower end of which bears on a supporting disk '72 carried by the valve body 56. The spring 7tl and boss 68 are in axial alignment with the port 14a, and secured to the bellows or diaphragm 64 as by a suitable bolt '74 is a valve 7% which aligns axially with its respective port Ma and is held closed under the effort of the yielding means or spring 79 until such time as the interior of the chamber defined between the bottom of the recess 60 and the bellows or diaphragm 64 communicates with atmosphere to cause the diaphragm or bellows 64 to move against the effort of the spring or yielding means 7t) under the influence of wind within the wind chest .ttla.

Plates 78 and 8d are carried by the valve body 56 and extend across opposite ends of the duct 58 to define valve seats for cooperation with the control valves to be more fully hereinafter described. As illustrated in the drawings, the plate "73 is provided with an opening which registers with the vent d and the plate 86 is provided with an opening which communicates with the interior of the wind chest 10a.

A support as is carried by the valve body 56 and extends downwardly therefrom within the wind chest and mounted on the support adjacent the lower end thereof to rock about a pivot pin 22a is a lever Zita having an opening 38 extending therethrough below the vent 54 and in substantial axial alignment therewith. An armature 32a is carried by the lever 29a adjacent the end thereof remote from the opening $3 for cooperation with the core a of an electromagnet 34:: which corresponds in all respects to the electromagnet 34, previously referred to.

Carried by the support 86 between the electromagnet 34a and the pivot pin 22:: is an arm 23a which projects from the support in the direction of and beneath the electromagnet, and carried by said arm 23a is a pad 25a which extends downwardly below the underside of said arm 23a and in the path of movement of the lever Zita so that as the lever is moved against the effort of the spring 46's: under the influence of the electromagnet 34a, it will be cushioned as it reaches the upper limit of its travel so as to avoid the production of any sound as the movement of the lever is arrested. An arm 38a is carried by the support as and projects outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite the electromagnet 34a to form a support for one end of a retractile coiled spring 4%, the opposite end of which is connected to the lever 20a to exert upward effort on the end of said lever remote from the armature 32a.

Extending through the opening 38 in the lever Etta in a stem 26a which is threaded throughout its entire length and is provided on opposite sides of the lever Ztla with adjusting nuts 9t) and 92. Threadedly engaged with the stem 26a for movement with said stem within the duct 58 is a valve 94 which, as illustrated in the drawings, is held in open position under the effort of the yielding means or spring ltla so that wind from the interior of the wind chest the may be passed through the opening 34 into the duct 58 and thence through the passage 62 into the chamber defined between the bottom wall of the recess so and the bellows or diaphragm 64 to hold said diaphragm expanded and the organ pipe valve 76 in closing relation to its respective port 14a. As illustrated in the drawings, the stem 26a projects through the valve 94 and threadedly engaged with the upper end of said stem is a valve 96 which, when the stem 26a is elevated under the effort of the spring 42 and the wind pressure within the chamber defined between the bottom wall of the recess so and the diaphragm 6d holds the valve 96 in closing relation to the passage 82 to prevent the escape of wind through the vent Obviously, when the electromagnet 34a is energized, the armature will move the valve stem 26a against the effort of the spring dila to cause the valve 94 to close the passage 34- through the plate 8t) and prevent the entrance of air from the wind chcst into the duct 5%. Simultaneously, with the closing of the passage 84, the valve 95 will be moved out of contact with the plate '73 to open the passage $2 and establish communication from the interior of the collapsible means defined by the recess 3b and diaphragm 5d and atmosphere so as to enable the diaphragm or bellows 64 to collapse under the influence of the pressure of the wind within the wind chest and move the valve 76 out of closing relation to its respective port llda.

In the further modification illustrated in Figures 10 through 12, inclusive, a wind chest designated generally ltlb is provided with a top wall l2?) having ports 14b extending vertically therethrough and communicating with organ pipes 16b. Like the structure illustrated in Figures 5 through 9, inclusive, the top wall 12b is provided with a vent 98 which corresponds in all respects to the vent 54, previously described. Mounted within the wind chest ltlb is a valve body designated Iitltl which is provided with a duct M92 which aligns axially with the vent 98 and communicates therewith through a passage 194 in a pipe tea which is disposed between the top of the valve body and the underside of the top wall 12b, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 10. The va ve body 1% is provided adjacent its end remote from the duct 1%2 with a horizontally extending arm iilfi. A collapsible bellows lid is secured to the valve body Edit and the arm the? to define with said arm a chamber 112. Said valve body is provided with a passage 114 which establishes communication between the chamber 112 and the duct 102. A top wall of rigid material 116 is carried by the bellows 119 and bolted to the top wall 116 and extending upwardly from the upper side thereof is a valve 1118. Spring tongues 1243' are secured to the valve body ltltl and extend along opposite sides of the chamber 112 and are connected to the rigid top wall 116 remote from the duct 102 to yieldingly urge the bellows ltd to expand and move the valve 118 into closing relation to the port 14a.

Carried by the valve body 109 and extending downwardly therefrom within the wind chest 1% is a support 1812 carrying adjacent its lower end for movement about a horizontal pivot 22b a lever 2%. Like the lever Ztla, the lever Ztlb is provided below the duct 102 with an opening 122 and carried by the lever 2% adjacent the end thereof remote from the opening 122 is an armature 32b corresponding in all respects to the armatures 32 and 32a, previously referred to. Carried by the support 18b and extending horizontally therefrom substantially midway between the upper and lower ends thereof is an electromagnet 34b having a core 36b which is disposed adjacent the armature 3212 so as to attract said armature and rock the lever Ztlb about the pivot 22b. A bracket 38b is carried by the support 18b and extends outwardly therefrom between the upper and lower ends thereof in a direction opposite the electromagnet 34b and connected to said bracket and to the lever 20!) is a retractile coil spring 4% which yieldingly holds the end of the lever Ztlb having the opening 122 extending therethrough in an elevated position.

Mounted on the support 13b between the electromagnet 34b and the pivot pin 22b is an arm 2% which projects from the support in the direction of and beneath the electromagnet, and carried by said arm 23b is a pad 2512 which extends downwardly below the underside of said arm 23b and in the path of movement of the lever 20b so that as the lever is moved against the eflort of the spring 40b under the influence of the electromagnet 34b, it will be cushioned as it reaches the upper limit of its travel so as to avoid the production of any sound as the movement of the lever is arrested.

Extending through the opening 122 is a stem 26b which is externally screw threaded throughout its entire length and is provided adjacent its lower end with nuts 124 and 126 which engage opposite sides of the lever and support the stem in the opening 122 for movement with the lever 20b. A plate 128 is secured to the underside of the valve body 100 and is provided with an opening 130 which aligns axially with the vent 98 and establishes communication between the interior of the wind chest b and the duct 102. Threadedly engaged with the valve stem 26b within the duct 102 is a valve 132 which is held out of contact with the plate 128 under the influence of the spring 40b so as to establish communication between the interior of the wind chest and the chamber 112. As illustrated in Figure 10, the valve stem 26b extends upwardly through the valve 132 and threadedly engaged with said valve stem above the valve 132 is a valve 134 which is yieldingly held in contact with the underside of the pipe 106 to close the passage 104 until such time as the electromagnet 34b is energized to move the valve stem 26b against the effort of the spring 40b and the valve 132 in closing relation to the opening 130 extending through the plate 128. Obviously, when this condition obtains, the supply of air to the chamber 112- will be discontinued so that the air pressure within the wind chest 10b bearing on the exterior of the bellows will cause the latter to collapse and expel the air from the interior of the chamber 112 through the passage 114, opening 104 and vent 98 to atmosphere. Simultaneously, with the collapse of the bellows, the valve 118 will be moved out of closing relation with its respective port 14b to permit air to pass from the wind chest into the organ pipe 16b which registers with the port 14b.

In use, it will be evident that air passing from the wind chest to the organ pipe will pass directly through the top wall of the wind chest without the necessity of making a 90 degree bend in passing from the wind chest into the organ pipe. This arrangement materially improves the tonal quality and establishes instant communication between the wind chest and the organ pipe so that there is no lag between the pressing of the key at the console and the sounding of the selected tone.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pipe organ, a wind chest having a horizontally disposed top wall, there being a port in said top wall, an organ pipe positioned above said top wall and having one end connected in communication with said port, a vertically disposed support positioned within said chest and on one side of and spaced from said port and having the upper end dependingly carried by said top wall, a lever positioned within said chest and transversely of said support and connected at its mid-portion to the lower end of said support for up and down movement about a horizontal axis, a stem arranged in an upright direction positioned below said port and having the lower end secured to one end of said lever, a valve on the upper end of said stem and movable into and out of closing relation with respect to said port responsive to the up and down movement of said lever, an electromagnet including a core having one end projecting therefrom positioned on the side of said support removed from said port and spaced above the portion of said lever between said axis and the other end thereof with said one core end remote from said support and having the end remote from said one core end attached to said support, an armature arranged in an upwardly direction and carried by the other end of said lever and engageable with said one core end, and spring means operatively connected to the portion of said lever between said axis and said stem and said support for urging said valve into closing relation with respect to said port.

2. In a pipe organ, a wind chest having a horizontally disposed top wall, there being a port in said top wall, an organ pipe positioned above said top wall and having one end connected in communication with said port, a vertically disposed support positioned within said chest and on one side of and spaced from said port and having the upper end dependingly carried by said top wall, a lever positioned within said chest and transversely of said support and connected at its mid-portion to the lower end of said support for up and down movement about a horizontal axis, a stem arranged in an upright direction positioned below said port and having the lower end secured to one end of said lever, a valve on the upper end of said stem and movable into and out of closing relation with respect to said port responsive to the up and down movement of said lever, an electromagnet including a core having one end projecting therefrom positioned on the side of said support remote from said port and spaced above the portion of said lever between said axis and the other end thereof with said one core end remote from said support and having the end remote from said one core end attached to said support, an armature arranged in an upwardly direction and carried by the other end of said lever and engageable with said one core end, a bracket positioned on the side of said support adjacent said port and transversely of said support and spaced above the portion of said lever between said axis and said stem and carried by said support, and a spring operatively connected to said bracket and to said lever portion between said axis and said stem for urging said valve into closing relation with respect to said port.

3. In a pipe organ, a wind chest having a horizontally disposed top wall, there being a port in said top wall, an organ pipe positioned above said top wall and having one end connected in communication with said port, a vertically disposed support positioned within said chest and on one side of and spaced from said port and having the upper end dependingly carried by said top wall, a lever positioned within said chest and transversely of said support and connected at its mid-portion to the lower end of said support for up and down movement about a horizontal axis, a stem arranged in an upright direction positioned below said port and having the lower end secured to one end of said lever, 21 valve on the upper end of said stem and movable into and out of closing relation with respect to said port responsive to the up and down movement of said lever, an electromagnet including a core having one end projecting therefrom positioned on the side of said support remote from said port and spaced above the portion of said lever between said axis and the other end thereof with said one core end remote from said support and having the end remote from said one core end attached to said support, an armature arranged in an upwardly direction and carried by the other end of said lever and engageable with said one core end, spring means operatively connected to the portion of said lever between said axis and said stem and to said support for urging said valve int-o closing relation with respect to said port, and cushioning means carried by said support and engageable with the portion of said lever between said axis and said armature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,722 Redman Dec. 11, 1928 2,089,332 Boner Aug. 10, 1937 2,140,802 Lehman Dec. 20, 1938 

